President says pay hike intended for future<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Amid a public outcry, President Abdurrahman
\nWahid said on Monday he would not propose a massive pay hike for
\ntop state officials in the 2000 draft state budget.<\/p>\n
However, he stopped short of saying the plan had been scrapped
\nand left it open for future consideration. The draft budget will
\nbe submitted to legislators on Thursday.<\/p>\n
At a specially convened media briefing at Bina Graha
\npresidential office, Abdurrahman said the planned raise was
\nmerely a projection for when the country's economy had recovered.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Finance
\nand Industry Kwik Kian Gie, Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo
\nand Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simajuntak, the President lamented
\nthat the welfare of civil servants of all levels could not be
\nimproved through a raise.<\/p>\n
\"In other words, civil servants from the lowest level up to
\nthe President cannot enjoy the ideal level. But that is no
\nproblem because the state condition is still like this.\"<\/p>\n
It became known in recent days that the government was set to
\npropose a 20 percent across-the-board raise in the salaries of
\ncivil servants, military and police personnel.<\/p>\n
An uproar ensued when it was leaked that higher pay increases
\nwere planned for top state officials.<\/p>\n
The President's monthly salary would reportedly be raised from
\nRp 33 million (US$4,580) to Rp 107.4 million in April.<\/p>\n
The Vice President's gross monthly pay would increase to Rp
\n89.5 million from Rp 22.04 million.<\/p>\n
Cabinet ministers, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and
\nmilitary chiefs would receive gross monthly pay of Rp 44.75
\nmillion from their current Rp 5.6 million.<\/p>\n
Members of the House of Representatives, Supreme Court
\njustices and key officials at the Supreme Audit Agency would have
\ntheir salaries increased from Rp 5.5 million to Rp 27.6 million a
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Bambang described the plan as a \"simulation\" which the
\ngovernment had no intention of including in the draft budget.<\/p>\n
\"It is merely a simulation, and we have so many simulations in
\nmy office... I don't know how such a list was circulated among
\nthe public, then provoking the uproar,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
\"The list (of salary hikes) is not a part of the budget draft
\ndocument. It will not be included in the draft.\"<\/p>\n
His disavowal contradicted earlier comments of some of his
\ncolleagues.<\/p>\n
The President expressed hope of more conducive economic times.<\/p>\n
\"If the economy improves or booms, our income will
\nautomatically improve too,\" he said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-says-pay-hike-intended-for-future-1447893297",
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